A Private Members Association for discriminating luxury leather bag lovers
Free shipping within the United States
A Private Members Association for discriminating luxury leather bag lovers
Free shipping within the United States
There’s a moment—often somewhere between the last child leaving the house and the first conversation with a new estate planner—when a woman looks around and realizes: she no longer wants what everyone else has. Not the Chanel tote at lunch, not the Louis Vuitton satchel in the airport lounge. And certainly not the plasticky “status” bag paraded at charity galas like a pedigree poodle.
She wants something rarer. Something with soul.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already noticed it—that quiet hum beneath the roar of mass-market luxury. You may have spotted it in the supple curve of a handbag that wasn’t instantly recognizable. You may have felt it in the weight of a buckle you couldn’t place. Or you may simply know, in your bones, that real luxury whispers.
I’m a master leather artisan. I work alone, by hand, in a remote Colorado studio where the scent of full-grain hide mingles with beeswax and neatsfoot oil. My clients find me through word-of-mouth referrals, and my membership-only website.
But even the most discerning clients are often surprised when they learn what “Made in USA” can mean these days.
So let me ask you this:
When you buy a handbag labeled “Made in USA,” do you assume it was actually made here—from start to finish?
Because under current U.S. trade regulations, it doesn’t have to be. A product can be largely manufactured overseas, shipped here nearly finished, and—after one final step like attaching a strap or stitching a seam—legally qualify as American-made.
And in the world of luxury goods, that one technicality makes all the difference.
This is how it works: a brand sources leather, hardware, and pre-cut panels from global suppliers. These nearly-finished components arrive in the U.S., where a domestic team performs the last few operations—maybe adding a handle or closing a final seam.
That last step is enough. According to U.S. Customs, it qualifies as the “last substantial transformation.” That means the product now meets the legal threshold to carry the “Made in USA” label.
To be clear, the label is legal. But is it the whole story? From a legal perspective, the practice passes inspection. From a craftsperson’s perspective, it falls short of authenticity.
Luxury brands understand exactly what their labels imply. That’s the point. They evoke images of heritage workshops and domestic craftsmanship—maybe even a leatherworker carefully hand-stitching beside a window’s natural light.
Yet, in many cases, this image exists only in the imagination of the buyer. The brand never explicitly promised such craftsmanship. Instead, it allowed suggestion to fill in the gaps.
This tactic isn’t criminal. In fact, it’s common. But when a label tells only half the truth, it becomes a performance—and one where the consumer unknowingly plays the supporting role.
Few examples demonstrate this more clearly than Shinola, the Detroit-based brand best known for its watches, bicycles, and leather goods. Their slogan was proud: “Where American is Made.” Their story aimed to resurrect domestic manufacturing in the shadow of the Motor City.
However, in 2016, the FTC intervened. Although Shinola assembled its watches in Detroit, most of the parts came from abroad—Swiss movements, imported cases. This wasn’t illegal, but it was misleading.
As a result, the FTC required Shinola to revise its language: “Built in Detroit with Swiss and imported parts.” The change was minor in wording but major in implication.
This case isn’t about watches. Rather, it’s about how easily a label—even one stitched in good faith—can tell a story it hasn’t earned.
Picture this: You’re browsing a beautifully curated website that offers a $2,000 handbag. It’s marketed as American-made. The photography is elegant, the copy is poetic, and the branding suggests timeless craft and tradition.
But here’s what you’re not told: the materials were sourced globally. Most of the cutting, shaping, and stitching happened abroad. Only the final detail—perhaps attaching a strap or logo plate—was completed in the U.S.
That last action is enough to meet the technical standard for “Made in USA.”
Legally, yes. But in spirit? Not quite.
When you buy a luxury bag, you’re not just purchasing leather and hardware. You’re investing in craftsmanship, artistry, and legacy. If the only American part of the process is the final seam, then the label tells a story the product doesn’t deserve.
As a woman who values quality, you don’t need a lecture—you need clarity. Here’s how to see through the marketing fog:
Phrases like “Made in USA of imported materials” are honest. “Made in USA,” without context, can be misleading.
Genuine brands will show their process. They’ll name their workshop, introduce their makers, and clearly explain how their products are constructed.
Terms like “crafted in America,” “assembled in the USA,” or “designed in California” are often chosen for their emotional appeal—not their legal clarity.
If a brand says nothing about origin, there’s usually a reason.
For an elegant, well-traveled woman who knows her worth, the value of a handbag lies not in a logo or legal label—but in its truth. If a bag is made fully, deliberately, and beautifully on American soil, that integrity becomes part of its story. And in a marketplace full of manufactured illusion, that’s the rarest luxury of all..
Nerina Leatherworks is a private members association operating in the private domain
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